Sunderland 1 Gillingham 1

IT MAY not have been pretty, but Gillingham deservedly ground out a draw from their gruelling trip to Sunderland on Monday.

Gritty, determined displays have seen the Gills take points off two promotion-chasing sides in the space of three days.

There was no hint of the kind of early season form that saw Sunderland come away from the Priestfield in September with a 4-0 win.

Gillingham were forced into three changes with Nyron Nosworthy suffering a chipped a bone in his foot and Mamady Sidibe and Alan Pouton both out with ankle knocks.

Richard Rose, Darius Henderson and Andy Hessenthaler - making his first start since stepping down as manager in November - all did well slotting into the side.

The Stadium of Light can be daunting for away teams, but the Gills started with intent and deservedly took the lead after 15 minutes.

Darren Byfield - who scored the winner on loan for Sunderland in last year's corresponding fixture – turned three defenders brilliantly and crossed for Henderson to score with a glancing header.

But Sunderland were level within four minutes. The excellent George McCartney jinked past two defenders and fed Chris Brown, who stabbed the ball home.

The Wearsiders gradually improved, but the Gills midfield was always quick to hassle and the defence quick to put a foot in.

The game burst into life again on 70 minutes when substitute Matthew Jarvis burst into the box, but supporting defender Richard Rose hit his fierce left-foot shot just over the bar.

The home side went up a gear in the final 10 minutes and were unlucky not to win a penalty when Barry Ashby appeared to have handled in the area, but the referee decided the offence took place outside the box.

The Black Cats were thwarted by Steve Banks’ stunning reflex save to keep out Dean Whitehead, before Jarvis was denied a winner at the other end by Thomas Myhre at the death.

Gillingham: Banks, Southall, Ashby, Cox, Rose, Hessenthaler, Smith, Crofts, Hills (Jarvis 29), Henderson (Roberts 79), Byfield. Subs Not Used: Bossu, Bodkin, Beckwith.

Attendance: 27,147.